Book excerpt: In the aftermath of the Battle of Red Cliffs, alliances are frayed, loyalties strained, and promises put to the test. One man must rebuild his forces from the ground up, while two uneasy allies argue over who has the right to claim the spoils of war. He who wins the throne must be effective at diplomacy as well as war. But do Cao Cao, Quan Sun, or Bei Liu have what it takes?